Overview & Reviews

The Volkswagen Passat has long been a favorite among shoppers looking for a little more luxury and style in their midsize family sedan or wagon. For many folks, the Passat has traditionally filled the gap that exists between normal, humdrum family cars and the financially out-of-reach luxury brands. Displaying a classy, restrained style inside and out, the Volkswagen Passat gives the impression of quiet competence, which is borne out by its refined driving character. A quality cabin and competent handling, along with a supple ride, are typical Passat traits.

The latest Volkswagen Passat is the biggest Passat yet and is priced considerably lower than before to more closely compete with mainstream family sedans. There has been some cost-cutting to meet that lower price, though, which means the Passat may be a little less appealing to aspiring German luxury car owners. Still, we think it has retained enough of its premium feel to make a case for itself as a gateway vehicle. As for used Passats, both second- and third-generation models are very good picks.

Current Volkswagen Passat
Available in a quintet of trim levels (S, Wolfsburg, SE, Sport and SEL), the current Volkswagen Passat boasts many of the qualities that have drawn folks to German cars in the first place. The well-controlled, buttoned-down ride quality is one, while its restrained exterior styling is another. The cabin, though not quite as special as that of VW's CC or the old Passat, is still one of the nicer environments to be found in the class. It's also one of the most spacious, with plenty of rear seat legroom and a large trunk.

The base Passat "1.8T" engine is a peppy yet fuel-efficient 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower. It is one of the more appealing engines in the midsize sedan segment, yet the Passat TDI's diesel engine is nevertheless worth strong consideration. Although a tad louder and with more low-end power than the 1.8T, the driving experience is similar enough that its 34 mpg combined fuel economy comes without a drivability penalty. Its highway fuel economy is actually better than what some midsize hybrid sedans can achieve. For those seeking more power, a 280-hp 3.6-liter V6 is also available.

On the move, the Passat is an engaging sedan to drive thanks to its well-sorted suspension tuning, precise steering feel and strong brakes. The car also manages to earn high marks for ride comfort, which is ultimately more important considering the fact that most buyers will be far more concerned with schlepping kids to school or co-workers to lunch than taking a spirited drive along winding back roads.

In total, the Volkswagen Passat is a midsize sedan that's worthy of consideration alongside the stalwart class leaders from America and Japan. While it still mostly looks and feels like a German car, it now has the generous space and attractive pricing expected of an American one.

Used Volkswagen Passat Models
The Volkswagen Passat was completely redesigned for 2012. It is larger and less expensive than the car it replaced, putting it more in line with American expectations for the midsize sedan class. Since that debut, there have been just a couple of notable changes. Specifically, these Passats came standard with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine good for 170 hp. It was sufficiently powerful and efficient, but loud and unrefined, making one of the other engines a more appealing used car choice. It was phased out midway through the 2014 model year in favor of the current 1.8T engine. The current Sport trim level and the Car-Net telematics system were also unavailable.

The previous, third-generation Passat was produced from 2006-'10 in sedan and wagon body styles. It was larger than the car it replaced and Volkswagen made an effort to move it upscale, increasing feature content and price. Perhaps as a result, this Passat wasn't as popular as previous versions, but generous passenger space, a high-quality cabin and strong engines should make it a good used car pick.

The standard engine for this third-generation Passat was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard and a six-speed automatic was optional. From 2006-'08 a narrow-angle V6 known as the VR6 was optional. This engine pumped out 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and it could be had with all-wheel drive in the 3.6 4Motion trim. An automatic transmission was standard for the V6.

There were initially four trim levels -- Value Edition, 2.0T, 3.6 and 3.6 4Motion. Even though the lower trims had steel wheels, other desirable features like a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auxiliary audio jack and high-quality leatherette vinyl upholstery were standard. The upper trims could be had with luxury features like adaptive xenon headlights, automatic dual-zone climate control and 12-way power front seats.

The short-lived Wolfsburg trim level in 2007 added some extra luxuries and visual distinction to the 2.0T model. For the 2008 model year, the trim levels were renamed Turbo, Komfort, Lux and VR6. For the final two years, Volkswagen dropped the V6, reduced the Passat to just a single (Komfort) trim level and discontinued most of the car's upscale features. A new hard-drive-based navigation system did become available, however.

Overall, our road tests of the time had good things to say about this generation of Volkswagen Passat, from the high quality of its fit and finish to the engaging yet fuel-efficient performance of the turbocharged engine. Tuned more for ride comfort than clipping apexes on a twisty road, the Passat's suspension nonetheless struck a happy balance between a plush ride and athletic handling dynamics.

The second-generation VW Passat was available from 1998-2005. It was a little smaller than the third-generation Passat but was very popular thanks to its tasteful styling, peppy performance and solid Germanic feel. Based on a stretched version of the Audi A4 platform of its day, this Passat offered an unusually upscale feel. From the way the doors shut to the way the car absorbed bumps without drama and confidently carved its way along a winding road, this Passat was one midsize sedan or wagon that was actually desirable. This certainly had an effect on our editors; both the sedan and wagon were Edmunds.com Editors Most Wanted award winners for five straight years, from 2000-'04.

Engine choices included a 1.8-liter turbocharged four called the 1.8T that made up to 170 hp, a silken 190-hp V6 and a short-lived 270-hp eight-cylinder W8. Equipped with the W8, the Passat grew too heavy and expensive to have widespread appeal. During most of the car's run, VW offered 4Motion all-wheel drive as an option on V6 models (it was standard on W8 models). A frugal 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine called the TDI became available in 2004. For used-car shoppers, any Passat should be fine, but those built for 2002 and later are the best choices, as they received updated powertrains and beneficial chassis improvements.

The first-generation Volkswagen Passat (1990-'97) sold in North America isn't quite as desirable as its successor. Although space-efficient, this Passat's styling was boxy and a bit strange, especially during the first five years when it had a grille-less nose. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was not a strong suit in these earlier Passats either, as it was described as rough in nature and was taxed with moving this midsize sedan. A few years after its debut, the Passat received more gusto under the hood in the form of the 2.8-liter, narrow-angle VR6.

User Reviews:

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  Still some imperfections! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By RTC - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I ditched by 00 Jetta to trade in for a 02 Passat, hoping the car would feel solid like the Camrys and Accords. The steering column still rattles over road bumps and when its cold outside. Its very annoying and embarrassing when I have buddies riding with me. Tried to get it fixed by bringing the car back to the dealer but was told nothing could be done! Shame on VW!

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  My first 1.5K miles - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By cchi - March 8 - 2:00 am

  After 4 hrs in Honda dealer, I decided to buy the Passat within 10 min by just opening the doors and trunk. This car is far more solid than Accord, no matter how many statistics shown by the Honda dealer, you can not against the law of physics. After the first 1500 miles, it avgs 31 MPG. The car consistently reaches 32-34 on the highway with super(93) gas. The 5w40 syn oil is hard to find. Since the car is turbo charged, oil should be changed more often. Use only original or OEM (Mann,Mahle,Bosch) oil filters with anti-drain valve to provide normal oil pressure in cold start. Avoid Fram2870A, Pennzoil, Quaker products. Change the oil by yourself or dealer.

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  Yeah! Volkswagen for the TDI Turbo Wagon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By Gwen Frangias - March 6 - 12:20 pm

  This is probably my all time favorite vehicle. It is fun to drive, a real winner at the fuel pump, and it has all the cargo space (and more) of an SUV without the bulk. You can hardly tell that it is a diesel, theres no odor, no noise, and as much pep as anyone would need. This car is a huge improvement over our only other diesel, a Mercedes back in the early 90s.

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  Great Family Sedan - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By bimmershawn - March 5 - 5:52 pm

  I put on about 1400 miles on a Passat S auto. The overall quality is gone down quite a bit from my 99 Passat GL V6 that I had before. The car is now manufactured in Tennessee instead of Germany. So far I have not encountered any problems. The car rides very comfortably except the bottom seat cushion is kind of hard. The fuel economy is very good and you also get a large gas tank. Power is adequate but not spectacular. I got a very good lease program (around >$4K below MSRP). Great value and a solid choice as a family car.

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  Very fun, but dang, lots of service - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By VW Fam - March 4 - 5:33 am

  This car is very fun to drive and very comfortable for the driver during road trips and other long hauls. The trunk is very spacious and I really enjoy the neat features like the grocery bag holder in the trunk... The acceleration is awesome and the handling at high speeds is great. BUT, there always seems to be a light on to fix something and VW service is not the cheapest.

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  2001.5 Passat - WOW! - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By George - March 3 - 4:30 am

  Overall, the Passat has been the smoothest car I have ever driven. My parents have been Mercedes buyers forever, and frankly, I always had my heart set on the Benz. However, after driving the Passat, I realize I can get the similar quality German engineering for an affordable price.

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  An Enthusiast Is Hooked - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By DanB - March 2 - 4:16 pm

  Traded my 06 Touareg V8 for an 08 Passat Turbo 6-speed...and I couldnt be happier. I have never seen such a well-executed car at this price point (~25k). Standard feature level, build quality, interior materials, driving dynamics and character all add up to one fantastic machine. Yes, even the V- Tex upholstery feels like real leather. Im averaging 29mpg, mostly highway, with less than 100 miles on the car. The engine pulls willingly in any gear with little to no turbo lag. The car features an electronic parking brake, push-button start and disc brake wiping- all normally found on much more expensive vehicles. I would challenge anyone to find a better car out there for the money.

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  Fun but not reliable - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Swiss Miss - March 2 - 10:00 am

  My car is almost fours years old and I have had many problems with it. These problems can not be classified as normal wear and tear. For anyone interested in buying the car, I would stay away from any that were built in September and October. Remember, these cars are built in Germany and Octoberfest is around that time of year. I am definitely paying the price for the car having been put together by a bunch of drunk Germans!

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  Great car...look for the new 2005!!!!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By abl75 - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Well, i bought my new car in September 2002 and so far i am very happy with it. What has been bothering me are the front lights that have gonne bad several times so far(4 times exactly) but i hope they will do a better job with the future generations. Allready have 50,000 miles on it and have not had another problem whatsoever. I am looking forword for the New Passat which is expected for late 2004 and will have more choices of engine one of which is the 3.2L 240HP. Finally i have to say that I love my car!!!!!

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  Great sports sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By terminalman - March 2 - 10:00 am

  A quality car with a very high "fun" quotient. Easy to control and highly predictable even if you push the limits on a curve. Excellent ride similar to a luxury sedan, handles most road bumps with ease. Quiet and pleasant interior. Responsive to the drivers style the the adaptive automatic transmission, or you can shift it yourself. Seat comfort is excellent in front, good in back. What a great car!